According to reports, Roberts and the complainant, who work as car washers at a gas station, were engaged in a dispute and he allegedly used a stone to hit the complainant on the hand.

Roberts told the court, however, that he was provoked by the complainant, "We wash car together. Him tek up me bucket and me tell him fi leave me bucket alone, but him still tek up mi bucket. Mi grab him hand and di two a we drop."